Come back with your shield... or on it.

TippetsTX · 09-11-2020, 07:26 PM

The following are my replacement rules for shields.

IMO absorbing incremental points of damage is not how a shield is supposed to function. Their primary purpose is to block the hit entirely which is best simulated using DX penalties in TFT.

BUCKLER/MAIN-GAUCHE -1 DX to be hit
SMALL SHIELD -2 DX
LARGE SHIELD -4 DX
TOWER SHIELD -6 DX

Some may notice how nicely this now aligns with the existing 'concealment' rules (ITL page 122).

Note: When the shield is used offensively (i.e. shield-rush or off-hand strike) this bonus is lost.

larsdangly · 09-11-2020, 08:02 PM

One possible problem is that this scaling runs away for large and tower shields, making it basically required to fight with them. If I can take a -3 DX penalty while imposing a -6 DX penalty, I basically have to do it, no matter what else is going on. If both sides do this (as they should), all melee combat is fought at -9 adjDX. Oof.

TippetsTX · 09-11-2020, 08:27 PM

That is true, though it is worth noting that shields (as well as armor) have ST requirements in my game which keeps the number of heroes running around w/ tower shields somewhat manageable.

SMALL SHIELD requires 8 ST to use effectively
LARGE SHIELD requires 10 ST
TOWER SHIELD requires 13 ST

It is also possible to mitigate some of the shield penalties using talents. My revised version of SHIELD EXPERTISE, for example, reduces the DX penalty by 1.

hcobb · 09-11-2020, 09:49 PM

Shields, armor, and weapons are already limited by weight, though not to the levels you indicate. It takes a ST of 9 to carry a Tower Shield in one hand.

TippetsTX · 09-11-2020, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcobb

Shields, armor, and weapons are already limited by weight, though not to the levels you indicate. It takes a ST of 9 to carry a Tower Shield in one hand.

Except being able to use a tower (or any) shield effectively requires more effort than would simply carrying it around. I also tend to use a more abstract approach to encumbrance and find that using minimum ST requirements for things like armor and shields is simpler.

larsdangly · 09-12-2020, 08:06 AM

Whatever the details, this looks to me like one of those house rules that introduces a significant enough advantage to a piece of equipment that it stands out against the background of generally balanced gear, and so becomes necessary (assuming you are trying to win).

09-11-2020, 07:26 PM	#1
TippetsTX Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: North Texas	Come back with your shield... or on it. The following are my replacement rules for shields. IMO absorbing incremental points of damage is not how a shield is supposed to function. Their primary purpose is to block the hit entirely which is best simulated using DX penalties in TFT. BUCKLER/MAIN-GAUCHE -1 DX to be hit SMALL SHIELD -2 DX LARGE SHIELD -4 DX TOWER SHIELD -6 DX Some may notice how nicely this now aligns with the existing 'concealment' rules (ITL page 122). Note: When the shield is used offensively (i.e. shield-rush or off-hand strike) this bonus is lost. __________________ “No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.” -Vladimir Taltos

09-11-2020, 08:02 PM	#2
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Come back with your shield... or on it. One possible problem is that this scaling runs away for large and tower shields, making it basically required to fight with them. If I can take a -3 DX penalty while imposing a -6 DX penalty, I basically have to do it, no matter what else is going on. If both sides do this (as they should), all melee combat is fought at -9 adjDX. Oof.

09-11-2020, 08:27 PM	#3
TippetsTX Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: North Texas	Re: Come back with your shield... or on it. That is true, though it is worth noting that shields (as well as armor) have ST requirements in my game which keeps the number of heroes running around w/ tower shields somewhat manageable. SMALL SHIELD requires 8 ST to use effectively LARGE SHIELD requires 10 ST TOWER SHIELD requires 13 ST It is also possible to mitigate some of the shield penalties using talents. My revised version of SHIELD EXPERTISE, for example, reduces the DX penalty by 1. __________________ “No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.” -Vladimir Taltos Last edited by TippetsTX; 09-11-2020 at 08:51 PM.

09-11-2020, 09:49 PM	#4
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Re: Come back with your shield... or on it. Shields, armor, and weapons are already limited by weight, though not to the levels you indicate. It takes a ST of 9 to carry a Tower Shield in one hand. __________________ -HJC

09-12-2020, 08:06 AM	#6
larsdangly Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Come back with your shield... or on it. Whatever the details, this looks to me like one of those house rules that introduces a significant enough advantage to a piece of equipment that it stands out against the background of generally balanced gear, and so becomes necessary (assuming you are trying to win).